Jays Outlast Mariners To Capture Series Win
Posted July 16, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Mariners made the Jays work a lot harder than they would’ve liked to, but they couldn’t stop Toronto from taking the last two of a three-game set.
Thanks to an 11 th inning single from Frank Catalanotto that came with two outs and the bases loaded, the Jays won their second straight extra-inning game Sunday by a score of 4-3.
With the win the Blue Birds improve to 5-0 in extra-inning games this season.
Scott Downs (4-0) won for the second day in a row, while Seattle’s George Sherrill (2-2) took the loss.
The game should’ve been over in the ninth when the Jays handed a 3-2 lead to usually dominant closer B.J. Ryan. But Ryan wasn’t himself, surrendering the lead via a solo homer to Yuniesky Betancourt.
It was Ryan’s second blown save of the season and the first homer he’s allowed since June 2, 2005 when Boston’s David Ortiz connected for a game-winning, three-run blast with two out in the bottom of the ninth.
Unfortunately, the blown save cost starter A.J. Burnett a win. Burnett pitched tremendously, matching a season high with seven strikeouts while allowing just two runs on six hits. His efforts earned him a standing ovation from the crowd of 28,679 on hand at the Rogers Centre though, as he handed the ball over to reliever Scott Schoeneweis.
Burnett’s counterpart, Felix Hernandez, also pitched extremely well. The 20-year-old gave up three runs on seven hits in just over 6 2-3 innings.
But other than Catalanotto’s big hit, most of the contest’s sparkling plays came in the field, including incredible grabs by Jays outfielders Vernon Wells and Reed Johnson and a terrific relay from Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Lopez that gunned down Cattalanotto at the plate.
Yes, the Jays won the game and the series, but it came at a cost when slugging third baseman Troy Glaus was forced from action after popping up in the fourth. He appeared to favour his right leg as he jogged to first.
Up next the Blue Jays open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. The first game goes Monday, and both teams will send left-handers to the mound in the opener in Ted Lilly (8-8) and John Koronka (6-5).
